Prep order of operations
- 1. Remove furniture or center it and cover completely
- 2. Remove switch plates, outlet covers, curtain hardware
- 3. Repair holes and cracks (see our repair guide)
- 4. Clean walls — dust, grease, and smoke block adhesion
- 5. Sand glossy or rough areas; dust again
- 6. Caulk trim gaps and fine cracks at baseboards (paintable latex caulk)
- 7. Tape trim, ceiling line, and adjacent rooms if needed
- 8. Prime where required; then paint
Cleaning matters more than people think
Kitchens and hallways: wash with mild TSP substitute or degreaser, rinse, dry. Dusty bedrooms: wipe with damp cloth or vacuum walls with brush attachment.
Do not paint over cobwebs, cooking grease, or bathroom soap film — paint will peel or chip later.
Sanding and deglossing
Lightly scuff glossy old paint with 120–150 grit or use a deglosser liquid for trim. Goal is a matte tooth for the new coat to grip — you are not removing all old paint.
Always dust after sanding. Tack cloths pick up fine particles that ruin a smooth finish.
Protect the room
- Canvas drop cloths on floors — plastic is slippery on stairs
- Frog tape or blue painter tape on trim; press edges firmly
- Ventilate: open windows, fan out — especially for oil primer or high-VOC products
Prep day supply list
Complete repairs and primer before estimating gallons in the room calculator.
- TSP or degreaser for kitchen/bath walls
- Patch compound, sandpaper 120–220 grit
- Painter tape — release within 24 hours on fresh paint
- Drop cloths, caulk for trim gaps
- Shop vac for dust after sanding